US-based Tyson Foods acknowledged defeat in efforts to conquer Latin America's poultry market, the backyard of rival JBS, as it sold to its
competitor operations in the region representing, by staff levels, most of its
foreign operation.

Tyson Foods, which is cementing its position in its home US
market through the $8.55bn purchase of Hillshire Brands, said it had agreed to
sell its Brazilian and Mexican operations to JBS for $575m in cash.

"In the short term, we'll use the sale proceeds to pay down
debt associated with our acquisition of Hillshire Brands," Donnie Smith, the Tyson
Foods chief executive, said.

Tyson beat Pilgrim's Pride, the US chicken group controlled
by JBS, to win the Hillshire takeover.

'Lack of scale'

However, Mr Smith acknowledged that the businesses in
Brazil, where Tyson is marketed as the brand that "o mundo todo aprova",
meaning "the whole world approves", and in Mexico, where it has been for 20
years, had fallen short of matching Tyson's strength in its domestic market.

"Although these are good businesses with great team members,
we haven't had the necessary scale to gain leading share positions in these
markets," he said.

The businesses sold employ more than 10,000 staff, leave
Tyson's international poultry business comprising Chinese and Indian operations
employing a combined 5,000 people.

"Longer term, we remain committed to our international
business and will continue to explore opportunities to expand our international
presence," Mr Smith said.

Appeal of chicken

For JBS, meanwhile, the acquisition offers an opportunity to
extend the reach into poultry for a group whose growth into the world's largest meatpacker was built around beef.